68 PRACTICAL LANDSCAPE GARDENING 



natural grade pitches toward the foundation walls the water perco- 

 lates through the new fill and runs down the foundation walls to 

 the cellar. Such a condition may also be overcome by filling in 

 around the house with a stiff clay, if available, this to be thoroughly 

 tamped or, still better, puddled. This sub-grade should have a slope 

 of at least two inches to the foot for a distance of four feet from the 

 foundation walls. Beyond that it may be reduced to one-half inch 

 to the foot. 



UNDERDRAINAGE 



Occasionally the ground falls away enough to have a point lower 

 than the cellar floor. In such instances it is a wise precaution 

 against a damp cellar to introduce a three or four inch agricultural 

 tile around the base, laid with open joints and half collars placed 

 over each joint to prevent the soil from falling in and clogging the 

 orifice. Where drive and walk drains exist this line of pipe may 

 be connected with that system. 



LAWN GRADING 



Generally speaking, the surface beyond the buildings may be 

 left as found so far as the contour of the ground is concerned; the 

 exception being small properties where it is possible to modify all 

 lines of grade to suit the house without entailing too great an 

 expense. 



LARGER AREAS 



On larger properties it is only necessary to soften steep depres- 

 sions or humps by lengthening the slopes, provided, of course, that 

 the surface water may be drained off. Where depressions are large 

 and the work entailed to carry the surface water off over the surface 

 is too extensive, a catch basin should be provided. From this the 

 drain may be projected to a lower point of grade or to a small well. 

 Such a well should be about three feet in diameter and four feet 

 deep (Fig. 68), this to be filled with stone to within twelve inches of 

 the top, over which place the top soil. Draining to such a well is 

 preferable to running it out on the surface. Drainage to a well 

 spreads by seepage over a large area. In case a sewer line has been 

 installed in the streets it is much better to connect with it, but 

 extreme care should be taken to see that the fine of pipe is properly 

 trapped to prevent sewer gas from backing up in the pipe lines. 



